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Spring Shooting Gun Cleaning

Spring shooting league starts this week, so it’s time to oil the range iron. It’s a good time for a thorough inspection, in place of the light clean-ups I apply throughout the year. I’m not going to bore you with a how-to, but here’s some tips I’ve found useful.

Funny name, useful tool: the Boresnake

One of the best inventions for shooters in decades is the gun cleaner on a rope. After every shooting, a quick swab with this tool keeps the tubes clean between solvent brushings. I have a 20 guage model I use for the 12’s too. After a day of hunting, even if I don’t fire a shot, it cleans out the leaf debris and moisture that accumulates in the barrels.

Canned Air

Sold for dusting off computer parts, canned air does a number on loose powder in the action. It’s also useful to spread a puddle of oil or solvent found in hard to reach places.

White cotton gloves

I get these by the dozen from vendors at car shows for a couple bucks. Or find them online. Keeps from getting greasy fingerprints on newly oiled iron. Use ’em and throw them away.

Brass or alloy wool

Great for scrubbing off heavy powder deposits or rust on bare metal surfaces (but keep it off the blueing). I use one called Big 45 Frontier metal cleaner made for guns. You can even strip a little off and wrap it around your cleaning brush to thoroughly de-lead the bore.

Spray and bottled gun oil

I use a few drops of oil on a patch for small spaces. But a spray can is great for larger surfaces like the gun barrel exteriors. Keep a bottle of both around.